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Chances are that you or someone you know will be among 2.7 million AT&T Mobility customers who will be getting a refund soon. The FTC is returning a total of $88 million to people who were billed for premium text message services they didn’t authorize.

Using background checks to screen tenants? Or maybe your company provides those background checks to landlords? Make sure you’re complying with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The FTC’s new guidance for landlords and for tenant background screening companies can help.

The military community makes many of the same consumer decisions as their civilian counterparts. We all need to manage our money – and avoid rip-offs. But servicemembers and their families also face unique challenges, like frequent relocations and deployment. When a permanent change of station is on the horizon, a military family needs to rent or buy a new place to live, manage money while on the move, and be vigilant about dealing with businesses in an unfamiliar locale. A servicemember’s regular paycheck from Uncle Sam can make them a target for scammers.

The FTC applies a consistent approach to evaluating ad claims. Companies must have a reasonable basis for objective representations, including claims that a product can treat specific health conditions. Whether it’s an over-the-counter drug, dietary supplement, or food, the same established standards apply. And as an FTC Enforcement Policy Statement explains, that also holds true for OTC homeopathic drugs.

Whether they’re tuned to “The Real Houseplants of Poughkeepsie” (guilty as charged, Your Honor) or more high-brow fare, TVs are a lot smarter than many people realize. Smart TVs, streaming devices, game consoles, apps and set-top boxes may track consumers’ viewing habits in one way or another. The benefits of tracking technology are apparent anytime a person follows a “Viewers who watched The Night Manager also enjoyed The Last Panthers” recommendation. But what about the privacy implications?

In an eye exam, the bottom line is the toughest to see. But responsible eye care prescribers and contact lens sellers clearly understand another “bottom line”: They comply with the FTC’s Contact Lens Rule.

From the perspective of consumers, the whole purpose of prepaid debit cards – their reason for living, if you will – is to give consumers immediate access to their money. Those cards are an especially important financial lifeline for people who don’t have traditional bank accounts.

The FTC’s Used Car Rule has been the law of the land since 1985. It requires used car dealers to post a Buyers Guide on cars they offer for sale. The Guide gives customers important warranty and other information to help them make informed buying decisions. After asking for public comments, the FTC has made some changes to the Buyers Guide that every used car dealer needs to know about.

Ransomware has emerged as one of the most serious online threats facing businesses. The FTC examined this issue at a September 7th workshop kicking off the Fall Technology Series, the first of three events looking at new and evolving technologies that raise critical consumer protection issues.

A participant on a reality dating show who doesn’t tell the truth? So what’s new. A participant on a reality dating show who is a defendant in an FTC action and doesn’t tell the truth in a sworn financial statement? That’s a different story.

Want something old and something new, all in one? Check out the FTC’s updated “Protecting Personal Information: A Guide for Business.” It’s the same principles that we’ve relied on for years, but with a new twist. You’ll find the latest tips about technologies that have emerged since we last published the guide.

Halloween is the perfect time to watch a scary movie, but for many consumers, real-life tricks like identity theft, false advertising, and unfair billing can turn every day into Fright Night. Imagine if spine-tingling Hollywood horror flicks reflected what really causes consumers to scream – and consider what your business can do to prevent a sequel.

You suspect that your business experienced a data breach. Maybe an employee lost a laptop, or a hacker got into your customer database, or information was inadvertently posted on your website. Whatever happened, you’re probably wondering what to do next.

Peer-to-peer payment systems and crowdfunding are emerging financial technologies that could render the “Sorry, I forgot my wallet” cliché obsolete. Those talked-about trends are up for discussion at the FTC’s second FinTech Forum, set for Wednesday, October 26, 2016.

The phrase is only nine letters long, but for many consumers, it makes the difference between a product in the shopping basket and one left on the shelf. It’s “Made in USA” and the FTC just announced a settlement of its lawsuit against Chemence, Inc., for misleading Made in USA claims. If your company makes similar representations, is it time for a compliance check?

With only two weeks until Halloween, people are starting to think about their costumes. A pirate, a witch, a Jedi knight – or an enforcement official from the U.S. Department of Transportation? According to an FTC lawsuit, that’s the disguise a Florida-based operation used to take in more than $19 million from small businesses.